Pages

Friday, November 19, 2010

Sweet Wintering Sparrows--Vickie Henderson

I didn't know much about sparrows until I began to volunteer at a bird-banding station last year. Besides loving the close up views of the birds, I was impressed with the work that is done by the volunteer banding team, important conservation work.

I have not released a bird from the mist net, yet. Makes me too nervous. But I have recorded the data and enjoyed the camaraderie of a dedicated group of people who love birds and want to help insure that their health and numbers are monitored before another species is imperiled. The banding site I visit is a local wildlife refuge made up primarily of grasslands, a habitat that is considered one of the most vulnerable to climate change, and whose resident and wintering species are already declining.

In the image above you see a Savannah Sparrow that winters in Tennessee. And below, a sketchbook spread of this sparrow being released from the mist net and receiving its band during a session. (click images to enlarge)

It was during these intimate moments at the banding table that I fell in love with sparrows. They are quiet birds with sweet personalities. And even though they have the reputation of being "little brown jobs", they are far from that if you take a closer look, even with binoculars or a camera. Their feathers are exquisitely beautiful,a tapestry in cream, white, brown, black and rust, perfectly designed to keep them camouflaged from predators. When they are still, you can't find them at all, even if you just heard one. And when you do see them, it is a wonderfully satisfying experience.

Besides the magazine article that I previously posted, I also published an article about sparrows at Knoxville's Wild Birds Unlimited website. The article includes images of two other beautiful sparrows, the maroon red and gray Fox Sparrow, and the exquisite rusty winged Swamp Sparrow, a bird that otherwise looks grayish all over.

And on a different subject, but still about birds, if you love Sandhill cranes and don't want to see then hunted in the eastern USA where they've never been hunted before, visit either of my blogs, Vickie Henderson Art or Vickie's Sketchbook. At the top right sidebar of each you will see this sandhill sketch. Under it you will find easy links where you can voice your opinion. Take a minute to help us stop Greater Sandhill Crane hunting in the east before it starts.

Search This Blog

Welcome!

You're visiting the award-winningSketching in Nature, a group blog began in April of 2009; it's grown both in readership and contributors since then, and just gets better all the time.

We've had a recent re-focus, and you'll see LOTS more art and nature notes.

Watch this space...become a follower...bookmark the blog...but don't miss this internationallook at nature through our observant artists' eyes.

Comment, please! We love to know what you enjoy about our blog.

NOTE: Spammers, your comment will be removed and reported to Blogger. Sorry, but this is not the place to make a generic remark and tout your business.

Sketching in Nature on Flickr!

Our sister group is here--click on the image to visit!

About us...

Our correspondents are here by invitation only, from habitats and habits all over the globe. We'd love to have you check in frequently to see what's going on in nature around the world, subscribe to posts, become a follower of the blog--or feel free to join our Flickr group pool by the same name if you enjoy working and learning in nature!

The Flickr Sketching in Nature link is http://www.flickr.com/groups/nature-sketching/ and also on the slide show above--just click and join us! Quite often we find new artists for the blog from that group.